Toe Shield Glove (TSG)

ABSTRACT

The disclosed invention is of a foot and toe protective covering designed for jiu-jitsu, Ju-do, wrestling, mixed martial arts (MMA), dance and other strenuous exercise that requires the grip of the foot on the mat and possible abrasion of the top portion of the foot. This invention embodies three portions, a permeable elastic portion on the middle of the foot, from the middle, top of the foot and toes of the foot, a fabric that consist of different types of stretchable or durable fabric materials. The TSG may also have extra coating on extra pressure point areas such as leather, rubber, silicone, or other protective materials depending on the market demand.

This is invention claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Design Application No. 61/685,666, entitled Toe Shield Sleeves (TSS), filed on Mar. 22, 2012. The entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety, for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

Those that participate in jiu-jitsu, ju-do, mixed martial arts (MMA), and other strenuous exercises do not have adequate protective covering for the top of the toes and lower foot when no shoes are worn. In jiu-jitsu painful mat burn occurs since shoes are not worn on the mat. Substitutes such as a socks, slip on the mat or roll off when sweaty from the friction of the bottom of the foot. Medical tape is also used to wrap around the foot, but soon comes off when the foot is sweaty. Once mat burn has occurred, wrapping the foot in medical tape our using some sort of adhesive bandage can be very painful.

2. Description of Prior Art

Previous inventions in the following are cited for their limitations and problems in comparison to my present invention:

U.S. Pat. No. 1,308,483 to Craighead discloses a stocking which is made of a single material and incorporates enlarged separate pockets for each toe.

A foot slipper to correct deformities of the toes is disclosed by Levey in U.S. Pat. No. 3,013,564. The slipper provides an arch support with a sock inside the lining of the slipper to provide an inner lining for the slipper.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,763 to Lengenfeld discloses a stocking with separate pockets for each toe and with a pad or tubular strip around each pocket to prevent foot ills and to permit the application of medication at points between and around the toes. The stocking itself is made of a single stretchable material.

A version of a shoe with individual compartments for each toe is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,390 to Anfruns, each toe compartment has a sole portion an upper portion and a flexible portion between the toes. An indentation is provided in the sole at the base of the toes which allows the toe area to pivot but does not allow the toes to grasp. The sole is typically made of a strong natural leather or synthetic plastic and the upper portion is usually made of soft leather.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,354 to Petrey discloses a foot covering made of a single stretchable fabric with plurality of pads disposed on the bottom of the covering key locations where the foot contacts the ground to increased traction to the covering. The remainder of the covering is made of a stretchable fabric.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,164 discloses an insulative material made from two pieces of neoprene without toe pockets. It seamed and covered on either side with a moisture permeable fabric. It may include holes to facilitate the thereof invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,314,356 discloses a stocking with overlapping toe pockets to reduce chafing between the toes. Single material is used.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,248,303 discloses a foot bandage marked toe portions therein. The toe portions are not separated toe pockets, and the device is intended to be with medication for treatment of chafing of the feet.

A material is used U.S. Pat. No. 1,798,201, which discloses a stocking wherein the first, third, and fifth toes have pockets and the and forth toes protrude from the stocking.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,600 discloses an athletic foot protector comprised of a porous elastic sock which has a layer of absorbent material and a layer of rubber or latex. This sock includes openings to vent perspiration. The sock is intended to protect against sheer force that may cause trauma to the foot.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,194 discloses a sock comprised of two layers. The inner layer is of a moisture permeable material while the outer layer is comprised of an absorbent material. A vent is defined therein.

The above noted prior art footwear provide protection for a foot or provide better foot contact with the ground, but they are not designed for the unique environmental conditions found in jiu-jitsu, ju-do, wrestling and other related strenuous workouts. They do not provide protection for the top of the foot and toes while keeping the bottom face of the bare foot open to the floor. The minimal material on the bottom of the foot keeps the material from rolling or pushing off during activity. Keeping the bottom face of the foot open to the mat or ground keeps the grip for the foot and keeps the material protecting the foot and toes from mat burn even during strenuous exercise when the foot gets sweaty, allowing for a comfortable, secure fit despite sweaty and strenuous situations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is made to protect the upper toes and lower foot from rug and mat burns, while giving grip underneath the toes and foot. The TSG may also have many more uses. The invention of the TSG allows for a custom feel fit from the middle of the foot down to around the toes. The bottom of the glove (underneath the toes) is similar to the width of a toe ring that gradually expands wider to the top of the toe giving the appearance of a sleeve or glove from the top of the toe.

Many individuals forgo shoes for different sports and practices. The TSG invention allows for full grip of the bottom of the toes and foot, while giving full protection from abrasion on top of toes and lower foot, which could occur from mat and rug burn, as well as many other situations. When the foot has material on the bottom it can cause the material to role when sweaty or pressed against; this invention keeps that from happening.

The TSG is made for a flexible fit that is made to withstand and protect during strenuous sporting activities such as Ju-jitsu, Ju-do, wrestling, dance and many other related activities. The TSG may have different types of material for protective covering such as lycra, antimicrobial fabric, abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric, neoprene, and other similar materials. The TSG may also have extra coating on extra pressure point areas including but not limited to leather, rubber, silicone, or other protective materials depending on the market demand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, the invention has been illustrated with a lower leg and foot on the left side of the body. It should be understood that the invention is applicable to the right side of the body in mirror image. The detail, structure, the applied principle, the function and the effectiveness of the present invention can be more fully understood with the reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is prior art of an inner view of a bare foot with the TSG sleeved over each toe.

FIG. 2 is prior art of an upper, front view of bare foot with TSG sleeved over each toe.

FIG. 3 is prior art of bottom view of bare foot with TSG sleeved over each toe.

FIG. 4 is prior art of the upper, side view of bare foot with TSG sleeved over each toe.

FIG. 5 is an inner view of a bare foot with the TSG unfastened on the strap, but with protective covering detached.

FIG. 6 is a detached view of the protective covering.

FIG. 7 is an inner view of a bare foot with the TSG unfastened on the strap, but with protective covering sown or glued in place.

FIG. 8 is an upper, front view of bare foot with TSG fastened in place.

FIG. 9 is an upper, outer wedged view of bare foot with TSG fastened in place.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of bare foot with TSG fastened in place.

FIG. 11 is a front view of TSG and sleeves around toes not illustrated on a foot.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of TSG not illustrated on a foot

FIG. 13 is a top view of TSG not illustrated on a foot with a detached protective covering, FIG. 13 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DETAILED EMBODIMENT

In the drawings, the invention has been illustrated with a lower leg and foot on the left side of the body. It should be understood that the invention is applicable to the right side of the body in mirror image. The Toe Shield Glove (TSG) of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5-13. The embodiment of the TSG is referred to FIGS. 5,7,8,9,10,11,12 and 13. Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals designate like parts:

FIGS is a top view from the side of the inner wedge of TSG on a bare foot with detached protective covering not sown or glued for illustration purposes FIG. 6 (2) and wrap (4). In FIGS. 5, 6, 13 and 13 a the protective covering is extended above the TSG to illustrate the protective covering (2). The protective cover (2) would normally not be the same material as the main embodiment (1).

FIG. 7 along with FIGS. 5,8,9,12 and 13 show the main embodiment of the TSG (1), which is made from alternate types of material depending on the market line. The materials can include Lycra, antimicrobial fabric, abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric and other similar materials (1). The protective covering of the TSG (2) is sown or glued on to the pressure pointed areas on the lower half of protective covering materials can include leather, rubber, silicone or other flexible and hardy fabrics depending on the market line (2) illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 13 a.

Illustrated in FIGS. 5,7,8,9,10,11,12 and 13, the TSG attaches onto the foot (8) by strong elastic wrap (4) and the material that fits around the toes (3). The elastic wrap is securely sown or glued to the main embodiment of the TSG (8) illustrated in FIGS. 8, 12, and 13. Illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7, 12 and 13, the elastic wrap has Velcro tm (5) sown on to the top middle portion of the foot (5) and to the end of the wrap (5). This allows for the wrap (4) to tightly wrap around the middle portion of the foot (4) and to allow for TSG strap to be pulled while securely wrapping the elastic strap (4) tightly. Illustrated on FIG. 13, when the elastic strap is wrapped secure, the outer portion of the strap gives a place for a logo which can be a rubber patch or other material (9). This (9) also gives protection for the foot when training or in competition illustrated by FIGS. 8, 9, and 13.

FIG. 8 is a front top view of TSG with toe and lower foot protective glove (2) with open bottom toes and covered top of toes and foot (7).

FIG. 9 is a top view from the side of outer wedge of TSG on foot with attached protective covering (2), and the look of the elastic strap (4) given the different angle of the outers side of foot.

FIG. 10 is a bottom of TSG with minimal material on bottom illustrated on the foot. As the TSG extends down to the toes, the lower half of the foot and toes are fully protected on the top (7), illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, but open on bottom to give appearance of a ring from the bottom (3), illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12. The bottom of the glove is open to the floor (10), aside from the material wrapping around the middle portion of the toes (3) and the strong elastic strap securing the TSG to the middle of the foot (4). This is distinctively important since it allows grip for the foot without the glove sliding off during strenuous exercises while the foot is sweaty (10) in FIG. 10. 

I claim:
 1. an aid that allows the foot to have grip on the bottom of the toes and foot, while giving full protection from abrasion on top of toes and top of lower foot, which could occur from mat and rug bum, as well as many other situations. a. This is applied by having the TSG slide over the toes and fastened onto the lower portion of the foot.
 2. As in the method of claim 1, this invention keeps the foot from rolling off any material on the bottom by having minimal material on the bottom. a. This is applied by placing the minimal material on the bottom portion of the TSG in the middle of the arches of the toe and foot.
 3. As in the method of claim 1, the TSG is made for a flexible fit that is made to withstand and protect during strenuous sporting activities such as Ju-jitsu, Ju-do, wrestling, dance and many other similar activities. a. This is applied by fastening the TSG securely on the foot and allowing the stretchable material on the embodiment to move with the foot, while being securely sown or glued on to the wrap and, protective material.
 4. As in the method of claim 1, the TSG has extra coating on extra pressure pointed areas to protect from abrasion and mat burn. a. This is applied by placing hardy material on pressure pointed areas on the top of the foot that may incur abrasion. 